Peru

It is estimated that 7.3% of babies are born prematurely per year in Peru, which means Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) has become the leading cause of childhood blindness. It causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina causing the retina to detach from the back of the eye, leading to blindness.

With approximately 5.2% of adults suffering from diabetes and diagnosis rates as low as 50% in some regions, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) poses a huge risk. Everyone with diabetes is at risk of developing DR as excessive blood sugar levels can cause irreversible damage to the to the vessels in the retina - which is why early detection and intervention is crucial in preventing blindness.

The Flying Eye Hospital first landed in Peru in 1982 and since then our projects have grown to deal with cataracts, paediatric ophthalmology, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and Diabetic Retinopathy.

From 2007 to 2016 we spearheaded two projects in 36 hospitals across Peru that focused on the dire situation surrounding ROP. At the outset of the program, most hospitals had close to zero resources to address ROP, and local staff had very little understanding of the issue.

Thanks to your support we have helped train 636 paediatricians and neonatologists, 93 residents and interns, 21 biomedical engineers and more than 1,000 registered nurses and technicians in sight saving oxygen therapy for premature babies. Over 2,000 babies were examined to detect ROP, treating up to 556 with Laser techniques. An additional 66 ophthalmologists were trained in detection and treatment, and more than 3,500 parents, mainly mothers, were educated on the disease and its follow up.

In 2019 alone, we delivered:

We worked alongside our partner, Instituto Damos Visión, to create an ROP referral network across Peru and a digital database to collect data on the prevalence and treatment of ROP in the northern and central regions. This evidence is used to advocate for change and suggest improvements to ROP protocols.

From 2014 to 2017, we worked with the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (IRO) to improve screening, referrals and treatment for diabetic retinopathy for people with diabetes - specifically lower income patients enrolled in the public health insurance. We trained professionals right cross the health system to ensure patients received the care they needed early enough for treatment to be successful.

In this time, we helped screen nearly 12,000 diabetic patients, a 78% increase from the previous years. From these, nearly 3000 patients were found to have some form of diabetic retinopathy. In total, 923 patients were saved from a lifetime of blindness thanks to this partnership.

Since 2015 we’ve been piloting a tele-medicine program with the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology to train residents in cutting edge techniques.

We are continuing our work with the Instituto Damos Visión to reduce blindness and visual impairment in premature babies in two regions of Peru - Lima and La Libertad. Together, we have worked relentlessly for a decade to make this disease a priority for health institutions and more work is needed to ensure sustainability.

For almost a decade, we have also supported the Ministry of Health of Peru to improve eye care systems in the country. Our current work with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), International Eye Foundation (IEF) and Divino Niño Jesus (DNJ) is focused on the development, monitoring and evaluation of Peru’s national eye health plans and the strengthening of the public eye care services.

With your ongoing support, other work will include implementing a global education and technology program to provide real-time surgical mentorship from our team of Volunteer Faculty using Cybersight, our award winning telemedicine platform. We will also offer live case consultations and support to help improve the quality of training and the number of skilled ophthalmologists right across the country.

• Instituto Damos Visión
• Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (IRO)